Trump to again dodge debate stage, leaving only Haley and DeSantis
While there are more than five candidates seeking the party’s presidential nomination, only two will appear on an Iowa debate stage set just days ahead of that state’s Republican caucus.
A CNN hosted and moderated debate scheduled for 9 p.m. on Wednesday at Drake University in Des Moines will feature just former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Voters tuning into the debate will not hear from former President Donald Trump, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, or businessman Vivek Ramaswamy.
Christie and Ramaswamy, despite their appearance on previous stages, apparently did not meet the news network’s requirement to “receive at least 10% in three separate national and/or Iowa polls of Republican caucus goers or primary voters that meet CNN’s standards for reporting.”
Trump will be otherwise engaged and instead appear on Fox News for a townhall-style event hosted by a pair of Fox anchors. It is also scheduled for 9 p.m.
Trump has not mounted a debate stage this election cycle, citing his dominance in the polls. Haley’s campaign, polling in a very distant second place behind Trump’s ahead of the Jan. 15 Iowa Caucus, said the former President is scared to face Haley in person.
“No wonder Donald Trump is afraid to debate Nikki Haley,” Haley for President Communications Director Nachama Soloveichik said. “Every one of his attacks against Haley has been proven false. Trump should spend more time explaining why he never fulfilled his signature promise to build a wall instead of desperately trying to mislead voters with easily debunked ads.”
Ramaswamy, who has seen some polls showing him with double digit support in the Hawkeye State, says CNN is trying to rig the caucus.
“They have disgracefully cherry-picked arbitrary poll parameters to favor requirements. Morning Consult recently had me polling ahead of Nikki Haley in one of the largest-conducted Iowa polls. The latest American Research Group Inc. also has me polling at #2 amongst ‘probable’ GOP primary voters in New Hampshire,” the Ohio businessman said in campaign emails.
CNN will host a second debate on Sunday, Jan. 21 in New Hampshire, just ahead of that state’s Jan. 23 primary.
Former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson is also seeking the nomination, but hasn’t qualified for a party debate since the first was held last August. Former Vice President Mike Pence, South Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, and U.S. Sen. Tim Scott have suspended their campaigns.